Phlox plant named ‘Alexandra’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Alexandra’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely flowering habit; dark pink and white bi-colored flowers; and good cut flower and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Alexandra’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Alexandra’.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination of two unnamed proprietary selections of Phlox paniculata, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in July, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Alexandra’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Alexandra’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Dark pink and white bi-colored flowers.     -   4. Good cut flower and garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the parent selections differ primarily in plant height and flower color.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Laura’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Laura’ differed primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Laura’ had lilac and white bi-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Phlox were taller than plants of ‘Laura’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Alexandra’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Alexandra’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaves of ‘Alexandra’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Hillegom, The Netherlands, under commercial practice during the late summer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 15° C. Plants had been growing for two years when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Alexandra’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Phlox paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Phlox paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About three weeks at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright plant habit; narrow inverted             triangle; moderately vigorous growth habit. Basally             branching habit, about two to three basal branches per             plant.         -   Plant height.—About 44.6 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 32.3 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 31.6 cm. Diameter: About             4.5 mm. Internode length: About 3.7 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N186C tinted with             close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly sinuate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A             flushed with close to N186A; towards the base, close to             143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A to             143B flushed with close to N186A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 146C. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation,             close to 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm by 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Between 144B and 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright             and outward. Panicles roughly conical in shape. Freely             flowering habit with about 100 flower buds and flowers             developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from July             until September in The Netherlands. Flowers not persistent.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the             plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Color: Close to 72A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 17.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:             About 3.7 cm. Lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Spatulate.             Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals, upper             surface: Close to N66A to N66B; towards the base, close to             155C, color becoming closer to 84B to 84C with development;             throat, close to N186D. Developing petals, lower surface:             Close to 73A to 73B; tube, close to N79C. Fully expanded             petals, upper surface: Close to N66B; towards the base,             close to 155C; throat, close to N79C. Fully expanded petals,             lower surface: Close to 75A to 75B; tube, close to N79B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:             About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing sepals, upper             surface: Close to 147B. Color, developing sepals, lower             surface: Close to N186A to N186B; towards the base, close to             144C. Color, fully expanded sepals, upper surface: Close to             N186A to N186B; towards the base, close to 144C. Color,             fully expanded sepals, lower surface: Close to N186A to             N186B; towards the base, close to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 13.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B tinged with             close to N186C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144B tinged with close to N186C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five; fused with petals in throat. Filament length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 11D. Pollen amount: Scarce to             moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape:             Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150C to 150D. Style             length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to 183C to 183D.             Ovary color: Close to 143A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the Phlox have not been observed     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −30° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Alexandra’ as illustrated and described. 